Today’s business isn’t the same as it once was. Along with new dedicated markets, such as extreme sports, new entrepreneurs have made their mark in innovative and effective ways that have changed how success is achieved. Entrepreneurs always find a way to adapt to business, and more importantly, have business adapt to them. One of those self employed cowboys of the modern day business world, is Tom Atencio. We wondered how a small group of people could take a clothing company, and turn it into a  150 Million Dollar multi brand leviathan of the extreme market, so we spoke with Tom Atencio himself to get some insight. The Co-Founder of Affliction and Vice President of Affliction Entertainment had that spark that makes every interview great. The spark of the entrepreneurial mind. Atencio is a man who just never saw himself working for anyone else. Anything he did, he kept that in mind. There may have been times when he was in doubt, or even doubted, but he was never ready to give up. He just kept DOING. “I’ve always had that mindset. Working just wasn’t me.” As Atencio and partners grew their company into a multi million dollar phenomenon, many wonder what the biggest struggles were in that time. And many mid level businesses may wonder how they did it in the first place. On one hand it clearly took smart marketing, quality of product, and an innovative approach to the clothing industry. But what many don’t realize is that it took trust. “We turned that corner because we had partners. One of the partners was the financial guy. But that doesn’t make it easy. We had to trust one another. That is a risk in itself, trusting four people. But it’s what we had to do to make it work.” Tom admits that he realized the company had reached a certain level of success when he was working with Donald Trump and Oscar De La Hoya to produce the Affliction MMA promotion. But Atencio tried to keep himself grounded. He thought back to those times when he was looking for a way in. The times when he was overlooked, unsupported, and just another guy trying to make it. He never felt that he was the big daddy in control and that is was his way or the highway. “I never wanted to treat people poorly. I was the face of the company, but I had partners. I knew that all of my success was because of the people around me.” No matter the struggles and no matter the risk, Tom took a “balls to the wall” approach to what he was doing. Even in his recent departure from Affliction, Atencio is taking a risk, but as many he has taken before, it is one he suspects will work out just fine. ” Some people are actually afraid of success. Taking that risk and doing it yourself, you gotta have guts to do it.” Since Tom’s passion and drive are for the Fight Industry and the Media surrounding it, Tom Atencio Productions has become his newest project. Atencio feels that following his true passion will pay off for him. He doesn’t think that limiting himself to clothing is the best way to be successful, though he doesn’t rule out a resurgence in the industry. But his overall goal is to continue to be successful, no matter what he does. “Plateauing is not an option. I have to move on to that next level, and this is the next level I’ve taken for me.” Considering that Atencio is offering his latest product for FREE, there will no doubt be a large love of his new venture. Thanks to Tom Atencio for taking the time to speak with us. You can find his latest project here at Tom Atencio Productions . Or find him on Facebook and Twitter .